trammell



1956 E. M. TRAMMELL, JR 2,735,289

PLUNGER-GUARD ASSEMBLIES FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed July 2 1953INVENTOR. 43 ERL M.TRAMMELL, JR.

PLUNGER-GUARD ASSEMBLIES FGR AUTOMDBILE DOGRS This invention relates toimprovements in plungerguard assemblies for automobiles doors, and moreparticularly to shielding devices for the prevention of actuation ofdoor latch conditioning plungers, when such actuation might result inroadway accidents by inadvertent door opening, or alternately, when theunintended actuation of such a plunger might result in locking the carkeys within a closed body motor vehicle, leaving the operator withoutmeans for reaccess to the car. The present developments constitutecertain improvements over the subject matter of patent applicationSerial No. 262,419, filed December 19, 1951, now Patent No. 2,694,- 917,issued November 23, 1954, entitled Inside Door Looks for Automobiles,and certain improvements over another copending application, both bythis applicant, identified as Serial No. 281,539, filed April 10, 1952,now Patent No. 2,708,845, issued May 24, 1955, and entitled Lock-PlungerGuarding Devices.

By way of general explanation of the present subject matter, it is notedthat there exists at the present time no fully practical, low cost,simple device, apart from those described in my copending applicationsaforesaid, for the prevention of inadvertent actuation ofthe rear doorlatch-control plunger of automobiles. Accidents are frequently reportedinvolving children and sometimes others, who unintentionally actuate theinside door latch, permitting opening of the car door and injury of theoccupants through falling from a moving vehicle. One of the principalobjectives of the present invention is to obviate such hazards.

Certain makes of motor vehicles are equipped with latch assembliesconditioned by a plunger so that, with the plunger in locking position,the door may still be closed and latched, many times, throughinadvertence, with the ignition, or door key remaining in place, andthus unavailable for reopening the door. The present developments haveas a further general object the avoidance of the time and inconvenienceof such difliculties with improved means for their prevention.

More particularly expressed with reference to the currently improvedplunger-guard assemblies, a further and valuable objective of thepresent improvements is realized in a simple structure comprising aguarded lock-conditioning plunger which may be formed of as few as tworelatively movable parts, in a manner to serve as a positive reminder tothe vehicle operator against inadvertent omission to remove the car ordoor key, the improved arrangement being objectively such that normallya key is required to depress the lock control plunger, the same beingretractible upon reentering the car or at other times, by lifting theplunger shield with a simple, short, unidirectional motion.

,, Another object particularly reflected in one of the currentlyadvanced embodiments is the provision of a disappearing, selectivelyextensible and retractible plunger "guard particularly adapted for usewith a rear door lock -control plunger, and which is of a simple lowcost con- 2,735,289 Patented Feb. 21, 1956 struction enabling the deviceto be selectively placed into or out of operative position.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages will moreclearly appear from the following detailed description of certainpreferred embodiments of the improvements, particularly when consideredin connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, showing certain parts in section, ofan improved shielded lock-control plunger particularly suited forapplication to the front doors of closed body motor vehicles, Fig. 1being substantially enlarged over actual size, for clarity ofillustration;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of Fig. 1, as takenalong line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view of same structure, principally in section as takenalong line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the structure of the precedingfigures, but shown in approximately actuali size, and with the shieldingelement in raised position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but illustrating an". added facilityfor use under certain conditions, to enable depression of the plunger byactuation of the shield;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of plungerassembly particularly adapted for rear door installation;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, and taken substantially along line9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the shield in adisappearing or retracted position, Fig. 10 being taken along line 18-10of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig.10;

Fig. 12 is an isometric elevational view of the shield element utilizedin the assembly of Figs. 8-10;

Fig. 13 is an isometric elevational view of a special plunger headmember utilized in the modification of Figs. 8l2, and

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view as taken along line 14-14 of Fig.8.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to anembodiment which is particularly adapted for use on certain front doorlatch-control plungers, it will be seen from Fig. 1 that the device isinstalled in and adjacent to an aperture PO such as normally providedfor the plunger in the glass frame GF adjacent the usual door glass DGof a motor vehicle door. The plunger opening is provided with aperipherally grooved resilient annulus, such as a Nylon washer 11;although the washer may be of any suitable, preferably resilientmaterial. The plunger proper exemplified by a rod 12 acts in well knownmanner, in most makes of cars when depressed, to lock the door bypreventing latch opening from either the outside or inside door handle,but when the plunger is raised the latch is normally conditioned forlatch actuation by either handle.

In the structure of that species identified with Figs. 17 a specialplunger head is provided, generally indicated at 13, the head beingprovided with a longitudinal bore 14 which receives the upper end of theplunger rod 12, being attached to the latter through a set screw 15which is conveniently of so-called Allen type, and when tightened, willbe in a flush or below-flush relation to the outside of the head 13. Theplunger head 13 is by preference provided with a transverse slot bestappearing in Fig. l, and indicated at 16. The material of the head islaterally extended on one, or on both sides as 17 at the extremities ofthe slot 16.

In addition to the special plunger head 13, the only other essentialmajor element of this form of the device consists of a tubular guard inthe form of an open end sleeve, preferably of metal and indicatedgenerally at 20. The sleeve or guard 2b is shown as provided with aperipheral shoulder portion or ring formation shown at 21, the guardsleeve being provided with an enlarged head portion including theformation 21, and similar formations of stepped diameter indicated at 22and 23 respectively below and above the lifting ring 21. As will appear,this arrangement facilitates iifting the sleeve from its normal positionof rest as shownin full lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In the arrangementshown, there are provided in diametrally opposite locations of thesleeve or guard element 2% a pair of longitudinal slots 24, the outerends of which are open, and the Widthof each of the slots approximatingthe width of the projections or ears 17 of the plunger. Further, Whetheror not a separate slot (not shown) be provided for insertion of a key,in addition to the slots 24, the length of each of the latter should beat least equal to the range of reciprocal movement of the plunger 12 andhead-'13, which in many current makes of car approximates Optionallyprovided at the lower end of one or both of the slots 24, is a lateralslot extension 25 best appearing in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, and the purpose ofwhich will later be described. it will now have appeared that therelation of the major elements, consisting of the plunger head 13 andthe tubular guard or sleeve 2i), is such that the one or moreprojections 17 operable along the correspond- 9 ing slot or slots 24 ofthe sleeve, permit relative movement at times, hence results in alost-motion connection between the plunger head and the sleeve, in amanner later more fully described.

The width of the slot or slots 24 is preferably less than would permitthe introduction of a finger into and through the slot for directdigital actuation of the plunger head 13. This width is further suchthat the flat shank of an ordinary auto ignition key or other thininstrument, may be inserted through one or both of the slots 24 with thesides of the slots bearing a guiding relation to the key such asindicated at K (Fig. 3).

In many, perhaps most of the present day cars and trucks, the relationof the plunger 12 and its head 13 to the door lock is such that, asabove noted, depression of the plunger locks the door, and lifting ofthe plunger enables the door latch to be normally actuated.

Now in order to assure that the operator of the car upon leaving sameand desiring to lock it, is compelled by the reminding action of thisplunger assembly, the arrangement compels him to withdraw his car keysfrom the ignition switch in order to condition the plunger head 13 fordoor locking purposes. This result occurs through the necessity forplacing into the slot 16, some thin instrument (which of course is mostconveniently the ig nition or door key) disposed usually at an angle tothe plunger head 13. The key is thus used to move the plunger headdownwardly with respect to the guard sleeve, by a downward translatorymovement of the key such as K. The linear extent of the unslottedportion of the guard of course determines the lower position of thespecial head 13, since under such conditions the projections 17 willengage the lower ends of the slots 24. After this operation, the doorbeing otf of the latch, same remains locked, since it is impossible withthe plunger thus retracted, again to open the door without the key. Uponreentering the car with the key utilized in the front door lock, it ismerely necessary, in order to restore the door to normal operation, tograsp the ring projection 21 and lift the guard sleeve 20. Due to thecoaction of the slots and projections 2i17 this sleeve movement raisesthe plunger head 13 to the proper full extent. Release of the guardsleeve 20 enables same to fall by gravity to its nor-v malposition ofvrest; against the non-metallic grommetll. The fit between the plungerhead 13-and sleeve 20 is such that there need be no more than a smoothworking clear: ance between the parts, so that there will occur noobjectionable looseness between these elements.

A distinctly optional addition to the guard sleeve is exemplified by thelower slot extensions 25 of the one or more slots 24. This provision ismade to meet the desire of certain drivers to lock car doors whiledriving the car, so as to prevent unauthorized entrance at stoplights orother enforced stops. The lateral slot extensions 25 are utilized whenthe plunger is raised, by lifting the sleeve to the extent of abutmentbetween projections 17 and the bottoms of slots 24, then slightlytwisting the sleeve as shown by the arrow of Fig. 7, in a mannertemporarily to lcck the sleeve to the plunger head by causing the lug orlugs 17 to enter the portions 25. When this is done, the sleeve may beutilized to depress the plunger by hand without requiring the use of thekey as may be easily done by the driver without removing the ignitionkey for this purpose.

Describing now the embodiment particularly adapted for rear door plungerguarding purposes as exemplified by Figs. 8-l4 inclusive, the glassframe shown at GPA is provided with the conventional plunger aperture 30which will appear in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 as provided with the conventionalcurl C surrounding the opening 30. In this modification the plunger rodis indicated at 31, and is arranged for reciprocal movement betweenlimits, to condition the lock mechanism of the door in a manneridentical with that described above in connection with the firstdescribed species. The arrangement of Figs. 8 et seq., is primarilydesigned for use with rear automobile doors, as for the protectionagainst unauthorized actuation of the lock control plunger by junioroccupants or others.

The plunger rod 31 is surmounted by a special plunger head generailyindicated at 32, attached to rod 31 as by a set screw 33 which may be ofAllen type as is preferred. The structure of the head is perhaps bestseen by Fig. 13 as including a substantially cylindrical body providedwith oneormore, preferably a pair of opposite flats 34, the purpose ofwhich will later better appear. A mushroom head or cap 35 overlies aperipherally undercut portion or annular recess 36 which, as will laterappear, provides along one wall of the peripheral slot 36, an abutmentfor lifting key or other instrument.

The guard sleeve, generally indicated at 40, is shown as including butwith restriction, an upper, enlarged cup-v like portion 41 which will attimes receive and substantially enclose the portion 35 specifically whenthe plunger head 32 is in its down or retracted position. The guardsleeve 43 is provided with a longitudinal key-receiving slot 42 throughwhich as will appear, an ignition key such as K may be introduced andbrought upwardly against the key abutment 43 provided by the outer wallof the peripheral slot 36, for lifting the plunger. The slot 42 ispreferably of such restricted width as to preclude the introduction ofthe finger'through and into this slot to actu- I ate the plunger, andyet is of such width that the key or other thin instrument may be thusinserted through the slot with its end portion brought upwardly againstthe abutment 43 to lift the plunger.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the plunger is shown in one position in full lines,and in another in dotted lines, from which it will appear that with thetubular guard sleeve 48 in position for normal usage, and with theplunger in its Outer most or extended position, same may be readilymanually depressed for locking the door. However, assuming the guardsleeve 41) to be positioned as shown by Figs. 8 and 9, the key K or likethin instrument must be inserted through the slot 42 then bodily movedacross its axis to lift the plunger in order to restore normal latchoperation. Thus 'it is seenthat with the guard erected, childrenin therearcompartment of the vehicle are unable to openthedoor by lifting theplunger.

The .features thus :far describedqare. quite similar to thosesprevailinginsome of the forms. of thereardoor.

guarding arrangements of my copending applications above referred to.The present arrangement, however, permits, when desired as whe '1 thecar is utilized only by adults, retraction of the plunger guard sleeve40 enabling full normal actuation without the use of a key or likeinstrument in either direction of plunger head movement. To this end thesleeve 40 is provided, preferably at diametrically opposite locations,with a pair of spring fingers 44 best appearing in Figs. 9, l0 and 12.These may be conveniently formed as partially cut-out portions of thewall of member 49. Each of the tongues 44 is characterized by someresilience, and each is provided at its lower end with a C shapedterminal 45. These curved portions will, as shown by Fig. 9, normallyextend partly into the plunger opening 39 of the glass groove, and upondepressing the guard sleeve 4% against a minor resistance, the cammingefiect between the lower portions of formations 45 and the curl C orother margin of the plunger opening, will cause retraction of the springtongues and permit downward movement of the guard sleeve as best shownby Fig. 10. This inward or retracting movement is limited by some formof lateral projection near the upper portion of the guard sleeve 40,specifically in the example shown by the larger diameter of the cup-likeprojection 41. The portion 41 similarly enables grasping of this cupportion again to withdraw the guard sleeve to operative position when sodesired. Incident to the latter operation, the outward or extendingmovement of the guard sleeve is limited by an outwardly extended tongue46, there being by preference one such limiting flange or tongue at eachopposite side of the member 40. The tongues 46 may be struck out of themetal of the body 40.

One or a pair of similar tongues are struck inwardly of the body at thetime of formation, at each side of the guard sleeve 40 as indicated at47 and best seen in Fig. 14. These tongues extend inwardly of the sleeveto engage and work against the flattened sides 34- of the plunger,through which as will now be evident, the sleeve and plunger areassembled in lost motion reciprocal relation, although any relativerotation thereof is prevented by the flats on the plunger and theinwardly extended tongues. The plunger rod 31 being non-rotatable, theplunger head is similarly held against rotation due to engagement of theset screw with the member 31. Since likewise the guard or shield isnon-rotatively assembled, the key slot 42 of the shield is presented inthe same relative position to the door and door glass at all times.

It will have appeared from the foregoing description that theembodiments described will serve fully to realize each of the severalobjectives above expressed and others implied. Since the description ofparts and their function has related particularly to selectedembodiments only, the detail of description should be understood in aninstructive rather than in any limiting sense, numerous variants beingpossible within the fair scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an inside-locking plunger assembly for automobile door locks, areciprocally movable locking plunger projecting from a door and a hollowelongate enclosure for the plunger normally supported by a fixed elementof the door adjacent the plunger but freely movable within predeterminedlimits along the path of the plunger, the enclosure being provided witha narrow slot limited and proportioned to receive a key presented in adirection across the plunger, the slot being of a width such aslaterally to guide the key shank through a translatory movement of thekey to an extent fully to actuate the plunger in one direction.

2. In combination with a reciprocal door locking plunger head, anenclosure normally extending about the head and substantially parallelthereto, the outer portion of the enclosure being provided with a slotso located and of a width such as to permit insertion of the shank of akey the plunger head, the slot being extended along the enclosure adistance at least equal to the path of the travel of the plunger head,and enacting guide portions on the plunger head and enclosure, servingto prevent relative rotation thereof, the enclosure being formed topermit a limited reciprocal movement thereof free of actuation of theplunger head, and adapted for linear movement along the path of theplunger head to actuate same in one direction of its movement.

3. An enclosure adapted as a shield for a reciprocal door-lockingplunger head in the general field of usage described, said enclosureincluding a tubular element normally extending about the plunger headsubstantially parallel thereto, said element being provided with aslotted aperture of a width such as to permit insertion of the shank ofa key laterally into, thence through the aperture with the sides of theslotted aperture in guiding relation to the key shank, said tubularelement being normally supported by a fixed element of the door adjacentthe plunger head, but freely movable from such position, and a lostmotion connection between the plunger head and the tubular element,arranged to permit actuation of the plunger head, by movement of thetubular element in a direction away from said fixed door element.

4. in an inside door locking assembly for use on automobile doors, alocking plunger head adapted to be functionally associated with the doorlock for selectively conditioning same to prevent opening of the doorfrom the outside of the car, a tubular guard about the head and servingsubstantially to enclose the otherwise exposed portions of the head, theguard including a longitudinally slotted portion of a length at leastequal to the range of reciprocal movement of the plunger head, and theslot being of a Width not materially exceeding the thickness of theshank of a key, and thus adapted to receive the end of a key shankinsertable through the slot for depression of the plunger head, theguard being floatingly retained around the plunger head, there being alost-motion connection between the guard and plunger head enabling theactuation of the plunger head in one direction by displacement of theguard along the axis of the plunger head.

5. In an inside door locking assembly for use on automobile doors, alocking plunger head adapted to be functionally associated with the doorlock for conditioning same to prevent opening of the door from outsideof the car, one or more lateral projections on the head, a tubular guardabout the plunger head and serving substantially to enclose theotherwise exposable portions of the plunger head, the tubular guardbeing provided with one or more longitudinal slots proportioned toreceive and guidedly to engage the corresponding number of projectionson the plunger head, the projections and slot arrangement constituting alost-motion connection between the plunger head and guard enabling amovement of the plunger head, by digital movement of the guard along theplunger head.

6. An inside door locking plunger assembly for use in combination withan automobile door provided with a frame structure, a liftable anddepressible lock-conditioning plunger projecting through the framestructure in an accessible position, a housing about the plunger, thehousing being provided with a slot extended along the plunger andthrough which a car key of flat shank type may be inserted for actuatingthe plunger, the plunger and housing being provided with separable,abutting portions enabling the plunger to be manually moved in onedirection by movement of the housing.

7. An inside car door locking plunger assembly including an insidelocking plunger head, and an upstanding hollow partial enclosuretherefor provided with a top opening and a longitudinal key-receivingand guiding slot, the plunger head having a projection operable in andalong said slot whereby the plunger may be actuated in one directionalong and inwardly of the enclosure for locking the door, the projectionand an end of the slot acting, in one position of the plunger toconstitute a coupling between the plunger head'and the enclosureenabling actuation of the plunger in an opposite direction by movementof the enclosure in such direction, whereby to condition the plungerassembly to enable normal door lock function.

8. In a door latchconditioning plunger assembly for motor vehicle doorson which is provided a reciprocal plunger shank for conditioning thedoor latch, which plun er extends through an opening in a glass-frame, ahead on said plunger. provided with a longitudinal bore, a set screwthreaded laterally into the plunger head so as to extend into the borefor detachable engagement with the plunger shank, a pair ofdiametrically opposite lateral projections on the plunger head near anupper portion thereof, a sleeve constituting a guard for the plungerhead, and provided with narrow side slots adapted slidably to receivethe respective lateral projections on the plunger head, whereby toprovide a lost-motion connection between the plunger head and the guard,the slots provided in said sleeve being of a width so restricted as toreceive and guidingly to engage the sides of a nar ow instrument such asa flat shank ignition key inserted downwardly into and movable along oneor more of the slots for actuation of the plunger, the slots helm of awidth such as to preclude insertion of the finger therethrough fordirect digital actuation of the plunger head, said slots extendeddownwardly of the top of the guard a distance substantially equal to therange of reciprocal movement of the plunger, and at the lower limit ofsaid slots, providing an abutment for said projections on the plungerhead, such that the plunger head may be moved to a retracteddoorlocl'ting position through the use of a key moved in translatorymanner downwardly along the slotted region of the guard sleeve and suchthat the plunger may be withdrawn to restore normal latch operation by awithdrawing movement of the sleeve, and a non-metallic grommet locatedabout the plunger head where same extends through the glass frame, andnormally providing a rest for the sleeve between periods of its use,each of said slots being provided with a lateral extension in its lowerend portion, such that, upon lifting the guard, followed by a slightpartial rotative movement of the guard with respect to the plunger headto bring one of the plunger projections into said lateral slotextension, depression of the plunger may be effected by downwardactuation of the guard.

9. The combination with a door latch conditioning plunger for closedbody motor vehicle doors, of a plunger head and a slotted tubular guardabout said head, the slot and the guard being so proportioned as tocompel actuation of the plunger in one direction by use of a thininstrument such as a key, the head being provided with a recessedportion constituting an abutment for such instrument, and projectingportions on the guard enabling the guard selectively to be extended toan operative position so as to prevent digital actuation of said plungerhead, and retracted to a non-functional position to permit digitalactuation of said head.

10. In a device for precluding direct manual actuation of an automotivedoor latch conditioning plunger when in a door-locking position adjacentan apertured door frame, a plunger head, a housing normally supported ona door frame in a position such that the plunger head may be moved intothe housing, the plunger head being formed to permit actuation in onedirection by a thin plungeractuating instrument such as a key, thehousing being provided with an aperture through which such an instrumentmay be inserted for plunger actu the said aperture being of a reducedsize such as to preclude finger access therethrough to the plunger head,spaced projections respectively near the upper and lower portions of thehousing, the housing being reciprocally movable through an aperture inthe door-glass frame, between limits established by said projections.

11. In a device for precluding direct manual actuation of a doorlatch'plunger cf the type described, when the plunger is in adoor-locking position, a plunger head, a

housing for the headadapted for mounting in the region of the plungeraperture of a door frame, the head being so located that same may bemoved into the. housing, the

head being provided with a recess providing an abutment for a plungeractuating instrument such as a key, the housing being provided with anaperture to permit introduction therethrough of the actuatinginstrument, the

aperture being of a width so reduced as to preclude finger accesstherethrough to the plunger head, the housing having an open portionsuch that the plunger head may be moved out of the housing through saidopen portion to a position to permit fully normal latch actuation of thedoor, and means on the upper and lower portions of the housing, adaptedselectively to abut the material of a fixed frame in the region of theplunger, to provide a limited range of retracting and extending movementof the hous-l, ing, such that the housing may be retracted to anineffectubular plunger guard, means on the guard for mounting.

same on a frame and in an aperture through a frame, the guard beingprovided with frame-abutting portions providing for a limited retractingand extending movement-of the guard between operative and inoperativepositions, a plunger head adapted to be moved into and out of the guardwhen the latter is in operative position, the plunger head being formedto provide thereon an abutment for a thin lifting instrument such as akey, the guard being-provided with a slot providing instrument access tosaid abutment, the slot being of a length at least substantially equalto the range of plunger movement and being of a narrow width such as topreclude actuation of the plunger by finger access thereto through theslot.

13. The combination and arrangement of elements and features as recitedby claim 12, but further characterized in that the abutment for thelifting instrument, as provided on the plunger head, is in the form of aslot with an end wall engageable by the instrument, and furthercharacterized by means for preventing rotation of the guard relative tothe plunger head.

14. A door latch conditioning plunger assembly for closed body motorvehicle doors for use in connection with an apertured glass framethrough which projects a vertical plunger, a plunger head, the headbeing provided with one or more flattened side portions and beingunderout below its outermost end to provide a lifting abutment for athin instrument such as an ignition key, a retractible tubular guardnormally embracing the plunger head when the head is in one position,the tubular guard being provided with a top-open, uppermost portion, andprovided with a longitudinal slot of a width such as to receive the endof a flat-shank ignition key or the like, yet of a width such as topreclude digital access through the slot for actuation of the plunger,the tubular guard being provided with a plurality of springfingers,'provided with lowermost inturned ends normally extending intothe plunger aperture of the glass frame when the tubular'guard is inoperative position, and adapted for self-retracting displace-V mentinwardly of the tubular guard, when the guard is.

depressed to a retracted position, the tubular guard being provided witha laterally projecting upper portion constituting a stop when the guardis depressed, by abutment of such upper portion with the glass frameadjacent the plunger aperture, the opposite or innermostend of the guardbeing provided on its opposite sides with a plurality of projections,certain of said projections extended inwardly of the guard in engagementwith the flattened portions of the plunger head whereoy; to preventrelative rotation of the guard and the head, and others of said tonguesextended outwardly to serve as abutments normally engaging} the innersurfaceof the glass .frame marginally ofthe ment of the guard tooperative position.

15. A door latch conditioning plunger assembly for closed body motorvehicle doors for use in connection with an apertured glass framethrough which projects a vertical plunger, a plunger head, provided withan axial bore, a set screw threaded into the side of the plunger head toengage the shank element of the plunger extended into the bore, the headbeing provided with one or more flattened side portions and beingperipherally undercut below its outermost end to provide a liftingabutment for a thin instrument such as an ignition key, a retractibletubular guard normally embracing the plunger head when the head is inone position, and of a length at least substantially equal to the rangeof reciprocal movement of the plunger, the tubular guard being providedwith an enlarged, top-open, uppermost portion, and provided with alongitudinal slot of a width such as guidingly to receive the end of aflat-shank ignition key or the like, yet of a width such as to precludedigital access through the slot for actuation of the plunger, thetubular guard being provided with a plurality of longitudinal springfingers, provided with substantially C shaped lowermost inturned endsnormally extending into the plunger aperture of the glass frame when thetubular guard is in operative position, and adapted for self-retractingdisplacement inwardly of the tubular guard, when the guard is depressedto a retracted position, the tubular guard being provided with alaterally projecting upper portion constituting a stop when the guard isdepressed, by abutment of such upper portion with the glass frameadjacent the plunger aperture, the opposite or innermost end of theguard being provided on its opposite sides with a plurality ofprojections, certain of said projections extended inwardly of the guardin engagement with the flattened portions of the plunger head whereby toprevent relative rotation of the guard and the head, and others of saidtongues extended outwardly to serve as abutments normally engaging theinner surface of the glass frame marginally of the plunger aperture, andserving to limit the outward movement of the guard to operativeposition.

16. A door latch-conditioning plunger assembly comprising a plungerhead, a guard substantially enclosing said plunger head, said guardbeing provided with a slot of a size to preclude digital actuationtherethrough of the plunger head, yet adequate to permit plunger headactuation in one direction by translatory movement of a thin instrumentapplied through the slot, and means permitting a limited movement of theguard along and with respect to said plunger head, the guard beingnormally supported by a fixed element of the door adjacent the plungerhead but freely movable within predetermined limits along the plungerhead.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.168,424 Schumann Dec. 16, 1952 2,708,845 Trarnmell May 24, 1955

